Diocesan News

Sister Margaret Frances Gallagher, IHM

03-17-2017

Sister Margaret Frances Gallagher, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Patricia Mary) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was born on December 3, 1935, in Scranton, PA. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Claire Langan Gallagher. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1953, and made her temporary profession of vows on August 4, 1956, and her final profession of vows on August 4, 1959.

Sister Margaret served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1956 to 1964; St. Monica Elementary School in Raleigh, NC, from 1964 to 1967; Cathedral Elementary School in Raleigh, NC, from 1967 to 1969; Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Inwood, NY, from 1969 to 1970; Monsignor McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, PA, from 1970 to 1971; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1974 to 1976; and St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, NY, from 1976 to 1977.

Sister also served as parish music director at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1971 to 1974; parish minister at Mother of Mercy Parish in Washington, NC, from 1977 to 1984; parish associate at St. Francis deSales Parish in Lumberton, NC, from 1984 to 1990; pastoral administrator at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Plymouth, NC, from 1990 to 1999; Co-Vicar for Religious for the Diocese of Raleigh, from 1997 to 1999; and pastoral administrator at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Warrenton, NC, from 1999 to 2010.

From 2010 until the time of her death, Sister Margaret Frances was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and a Master of Science degree in counseling from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann O’Connell, and Marie Cummings.

She is survived by nieces and nephews and the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Friday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Thursday, March 16, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.